Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-03-25

hioiNV l'lcbure' ine VnCk VIII anu
shrcwdncss, which so often relieved
desperate situations among the warning
tribes of Africa, he cannot conceal.
He tells with splendid effect how,
when he had put together the vessel
which he had transported in pieces on
the shoulders of carriers from tho coast
to Victoria Nyanza TO be used in cir
cumnavigating that great lake, his
men, the Wangwana, stood round in
awe and amazement, and could not be
induced to 60 on board the floating
wonder. Addressing them he called
for volunteers to go with him on the
vessel to help navigate her, but he got
no response. Finally turning to one
who stood near him he said:
won't you goP"
"Oh, no."
"WhyP"
"Whcn l look at tho water It goes
boo, boo, boo, and my heart 1t goes boo,
boo, boo"
AT one place on the lake so many OF
the natives, in their canoes, gathered
around the craft containing the strange
white man that he could not get away.
He could not drive them off; but he
used little rusc most effectively.
Taking his revolver he fired several
shots in quick succession into the
water and instantly the canoes were
emptied, every man plunging hendlong
into the lake, like so many frogs, to
find the bullets.
His courage, which nothing could
daunt, his tact, his patience and his
sciupulous honesty in dealing with the
natives saved him and his expedition
scores of times from disaster.
There were some very trying mo-
mcnts in his trip through the Dark
Continent, when the least sign of wa
vering or fear would have cost him
his life. On his memorable trip down
the Congo he had battles every day
with the furious savages, from the
point where he embarked almost down
to Stanley Pool. When he reached
the Aruwimi, on that dreadful pass
age, he could count no fewer than
twenty-eight desperate combats he
had fought "with the insensate fu-
ries of Savagcland," and he felt like n
hard-presscd stag, almost hopeless of
escape. He writes:
1--WE also had labored strenuously
through ranks upon ranks of savagcs,
scattered ovcra score of flotillas, had en-
durcd persistent attacks, night and day,
while struggling through them; had re-
sorted to all modes of defense, and
yet at every curve of this fearful river
the yells of the savages broke loud on
our ears; the snake-like canoes darted
forward impctuously to the attack,
while the drums and horns and shouts
raised fierce and deafening uproar.
We were becoming exhausted. Yet we
were still only on the middle line of the
continent! We were also being weedcd
out by units and two and thrces.
There were not thirty in the entire ex-
pedition that had not received n wound.
To continue this fearful life was not
possible. Some day we should lie down
and offer our throats to the cannibal
butchers"
These horrid savages fought for hui
man flesh and plumber. AT every on
set the cry would be "meat! meatw
and as the strangers escaped them,
their bafiled hopes would find express
sion in dismal wailings. Sometimes n
parley would be held, and there was
danger of treachcrous attack any mo-
ment. AT Urangi the natives put on
an appearance of friendliness. Stan
ley doubts whether they are cannibals,
but he noticed that they wore chains
of human teeth round their necks, n
sight, he remarks, fitted to excite
morbid IDEAS" They pressed about
him and his men in great numbers,
but they were treated with great socia-
bility.
"I sat smiling in the midst of a tat
tooed group remarkable for their filed
teeth, gashed bodies, and bearing in
their hands fcarfully dangerous-look-
ing knives or swords, with which the
crowd might have hacked me to pieces
before could have even OWNED their
intentions"
He had n similar experience at Ma
runja where the cry of the native
sounds somewhat like the neighing of
horse. His escape in this instance,
as in many other instances, he at
tributes to the strange appearance he
presented rs white man.
"For my part must confess to hav-
ing been charmed into dangerous in
activity by the novelty of the human
cries so much so that before | was on
the alert there was three canoes in
front of me, and over the gunwales
saw nine bright musket-barrels aimed
at me. As my position was in the
bow of the boat, while leading the
expedition down the river, l soon
became target for few more, MS the
crescent form in our front. But, rs
on several other occasions, was saved
because my very appearance startled
them. .
Had / been n black man | should
have long before been slain, but even
in the midst of n battle, curiosity,
stronger than hate or blood-thirstiness,
arrested the sinewy arm which drew
the bow, and delayed the flying spear.
And now, while their thin flint ham
mers We're at full cock, and the fingers
pressing the triggers of the deadly mus
kets, the savages became absorbed in
contemplating the silent and still form
of kind of being which to them must
nave appeared ms strange as any unreal
being the traditions of their fathers
had attempted to describe. OF course
the slightest movement on my part
would have been instantly followed by
my death. Though it was unpleasant
to sit and feel ones self to be target
for so many guns, vet it was the wisest